UAE | Crime
Cocaine smuggler jailed for ten years
A court has confirmed a 10 year jail sentence for a South African visitor who handed over a bag containing cocaine to a policeman at Dubai airport.
- By Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:07 October 2, 2008
Dubai A court has confirmed a 10 year jail sentence for a South African visitor who handed over a bag containing cocaine to a policeman at Dubai airport.
The Dubai Court of Appeal upheld the initial verdict, ten years in jail and a Dh50,000 fine, for the 39-year-old, M.V., who earlier pleaded guilty to smuggling cocaine which he admitted he intended to send to Switzerland.
Intent to export
He will be deported after serving his sentence.
Records show an Emirati policeman initially thought the South African was joking when he approached the counter at Dubai International Airport to hand over the drugs.
"He said he was carrying cocaine and wanted to hand it over," the 22-year-old policeman testified. "I informed my supervisor who took him to a search room.
"We found ten pouches of suspected drugs inside one of his bags."
The Public Prosecution charged the South African with smuggling and possessing approximately 4.3kg of cocaine with the intention of exporting it from the country.
The visitor confessed during interrogation at the Public Prosecution that a Nigerian suspect had asked him to transport the cocaine to someone in Zurich, Switzerland.
Community Reports
-
Bridges needed
Al Ittihad Road has no pedestrian facilities as one nears Sharjah
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk
-
Safety regulations flouted at Dubai work place
In Al Nahda 2, two workers were seen working on the crane boom at a height of 20m without a full body harness or safety net in violation of rules
Latest news
- New road widens Jumeirah Lakes Towers access
- Filipino students, groups attend cultural meet
- For this maestro, it's all about the sound
- Experts can't tell old instruments from new
- Sound of violins
- Facilitators: Helping others find joy
- Volunteers remove garbage from Mamzar beach
- Clean-up campaign set to raise awareness
- Sharjah landmarks bathed in light
- Shaikh Mohammad meets South Korea leader
- New rules for Abu Dhabi buildings
- Four poised to chase their dreams in Dubai
- In the pursuit of happiness
- Get friends on board, zip away with Salik bonus
- Dubai hospitals debut life-saving procedure
